Chamber News

Belleville, Ont. January 9th, 2017. The Belleville Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Ms. Jill Raycroft has accepted the positon of Chief Executive Officer effective Monday, February 6th, 2017. With a combination of 20+ years in the public sector and hard-core MBA training, Jill brings an interesting blend of experience and education to the role of CEO. Working in one of the few "revenue-generating" departments of a community college led to the decision to continue her studies in business. After completing her MBA, she went on to St. Lawrence College to work in applied research and teaching marketing & communications along with independent consulting projects for economic development and market analysis. Following her mayoral run in 2014, she has sat on city committees for Transit, Heritage Belleville and QEDC in addition to personal interests with Bay of Quinte Power and Sail Squadron, St. Lawrence College Research Ethics Board and Crimestoppers. She has spent the last year in a part-time role of Executive Director for the Children's Safety Village, spearheading their "revival" in the community. For fun, she enjoys the cottage in the 1000 Islands with her husband and two children, golfing and reading.

Ms. Raycroft will be replacing current CEO Bill Saunders who previously announced his retirement effective March 3rd, 2017. Ms. Raycroft brings with her a strong business background plus exposure to a wide range of community engagement experiences including her most recent role as Executive Director of the Children’s Safety Village overseeing it’s much needed revival. "We fully expect the momentum to continue as we develop programming and funding partnerships within the community." Said Richard Hanson, Children’s Safety Village Board Chair. “The Safety Village will be recruiting for a new Executive Director to move forward with these initiatives.”

Jill Raycroft, current Executive Director of the Children’s Safety Village, will be leaving the position at the beginning of February to take on her new role as CEO, Belleville Chamber of Commerce. “I might be leaving the job, but the Safety Village will always be something I want to help with.” says Raycroft.

The role of ED was first created in November, 2015 out of a desperate need to “Revive the Village”. Attendance from schools had dropped significantly and funding resources were barely covering operating costs. In the past year, the Village has received a much needed boost from the Parrott Foundation to cover some major renovation and updating projects and renewed partnerships with the Lions Club of Belleville and the Belleville Wesleyan church. New supporters such as TalTrees have also come on board and attendance from both schools for classroom programs and the public to open house events has been the highest in years.

Richard Hanson – Board Chair says “On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Safety Village, I wish to acknowledge the great work done by Jill Raycroft in her 14 months as Executive Director. Jill will be sorely missed, but the Board will be looking to recruit a replacement to continue the momentum generated by Jill”.

The Chamber is also pleased to announce the following changes to the 2017 Board of Directors. Derrick Morgan, Manager, Major Accounts with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has been elected as the 2017 Chamber Board President. René Veillette, Managing Director, Hannon Systems is the new 1st VP, Jon Tuer, Manager, Wilkinson and Company was elected as 2nd VP and will continue to serve as Board Treasurer, Greg Sudds, President and GM, West City Honda was elected 3rd VP, Suzanne Hunt, Partner, Templeman Menninga LLP was appointed as Executive Team HR resource. Current Board president Tim Farrell will assume the role of Past President and continue to serve on the Executive Team.